- To me, Asturia is like the Gaian version of France, therefore the 'accent'.
- Piscus is a gourd-like fruit with a bitter juice inside that can be drunk.
Tenkuu no Ryuugekitai - Hikari to Kage o Dakishimeta
'Do you know exactly how much trouble we're going to get into if we're caught?'
'Quite a bit I expect. Now be quiet and land, Guimel.'
That was easier said than done. Gatti realized soon after leaving the hanger
the Stealth Cloaks didn't work when the Alseides unit was in flying mode.
Fortunately, the Zaibach guards must have thought they had been sent on some
errand by Dilandau, and they weren't stopped. It did mean, however, that they
had to land further away from the capital city. Although most of the Freidan
army was preoccupied with the battle raging on the other side of the country,
the guards in this city would be on high alert.
The mechanical symphony of switching gear and changing metal rang through
Gatti's ears as the guymelef unfurled into its ground mode. Now able to use the
Cloaks, the Slayers' Alseides shimmered to invisibility.
'The city gates are due north from our location,' Guimel's voice crackled
over the comm-link. 'There's a dense area to hide our guymelefs. After that, we
enter the city,' Calling his affirmative, Gatti followed the faint outline in
front of him. The Dragon Slayers had been trained to spot each other's Alseides
when in Stealth mode, although this was extremely difficult. They were supposed
to look for signs, therefore Gatti followed the crashing trees and the deep
impressions left in the underbrush.
A half-hour later, the high stone walls of the city of Godasim came into view.
Gatti snuggled his Alseides into the large tangle of greenery as best he could
before taking off the Stealth Cloak. They would have to keep their guymelefs
unmasked so they'd be able to find them again. As he slid out of the cockpit
and carefully climbed down his 'melef, Gatti noticed the smooth blue of his
unit wasn't very good at camoflauging it. He wished he had borrowed Shanti's
Alseides; the deep bluish-green colour of it, indicating her in-training
status, would have blended perfectly into the shrubbery.
He dropped and landed on the hard ground with a grunt. Guimel was already
waiting for him.
'You're too used to using the pathways. You take too long climbing down!' With a grin, Guimel winked and threw a dark bundle at his chest.
'What's this?'
'You're not very good at reconnaissance, Gatti,' Guimel shook his head in
mock-pity. 'You can't truly expect the guards are going to let us waltz in when
our main forces are attacking their country? Honestly!' Gatti rolled his eyes-
'Since when did he know what 'reconnaissance' meant?'
but put on his disguise. Once dressed, he looked down at himself.
'You have no taste.' Guimel blinked, tilting his head to one side.
'Nonsense! That colour looks good on you!'
'It's PINK.'
'It brings out your eyes. Stop complaining and let's go,'
Guimel slipped his shades back over his eyes and straightened the lapel of his
black cloak. Gatti looked enviously at the other's outfit. A dark blue tunic
over of a white shirt with the puffy sleeves of an Asturian noble, along with
his black pants and boots; the indigo colour of the tunic matched his eyes
exactly. The ebony cloak about his shoulders fluttered with the breeze, giving
the white-blond boy an air of royalty.
Gatti, on the other hand, had the simple robes of a merchant. He wrapped his
own cloak, a plain and hole-ridden rag, around himself tightly in a vain effort
to hide the deep magenta fabric.
'Onward!' With long strides, Guimel marched grandly through the brush.
'And...whose idea was this?' muttered Gatti, trudging along after Guimel, who had started brightly whistling an old Zaibach battle song.
A short period of time later, the pair had reached the front gates of the
city.
'Interesting,' Guimel whispered to Gatti without breaking his stride. 'There's
only two guards,' Gatti was about to reply when the guards spotted them.
'Ho! And what is your business here?' One guard said, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. Guimel sniffed, his head held high in the air.
'How dare you question me? Do you not know who I am?' he commanded, his voice taking on the snooty accent of a high-status Asturian. The two Friedans looked at each other, and shook their heads. Guimel's mouth dropped in an expression of shock, though Gatti could see he was desperately searching for an alias. Taking the initiative, he put on his best Asturian accent.
'Why, he is ze magnificent Cotelette d'Agneau, ze greatest trader in all of Asturia!'
'Indeed!' Guimel spoke up. 'I come wit my servant to see ze treasure Freid has to offer!' One guard raised a brow, looking at the pair. Both were far shorter than he at about 169 centimetres, with still the soft, feminine touches of boys. They were young. Too young...
'Really,' he decided to play along until he could catch them in their own net. 'And what is your main trade?'
'I specialize in ze market concerning ze buying and selling transaction of
livestock,' Guimel replied.
The guard didn't move.
'We buy sheep,' Gatti added.
'Ha!' The guard raised his spear. 'You're lying! Where is your dog? Where is
your herder's staff? And no Asturian trader would come on foot with only one
servant! A servant,' he glared critically at Gatti. 'who wears pink!'
Gatti looked at Guimel.
Guimel looked at Gatti.
Both looked at the guards.
'MAA!' Guimel unsheathed the sword that had lain hidden underneath his cloak, and pounced on the chatty soldier, striking him over his shaven head with the hilt. In a flash of magenta, Gatti's leg flew up and kicked the second guard in the jaw. The man swung around in a full circle and fell to the earth, unconscious. Sheathing his sword, Guimel looked at Gatti with a raised eyebrow.
''Cotelette d'Agneau'?'
'Shouldn't you be thanking me for covering for you?' Gatti helped his comrade lift the heavy wooden plank that barred the large gates. They quickly entered the city before anyone would notice the guards were knocked out.
'The first thing we need to head for is the marketplace, which is in the city's square. From there I should be able to find Mikyla's house.' As Gatti went to speak, Guimel quickly added, 'I've only been here twice, and each time Dante went to the market to buy her something. I'll be oriented once I'm in the market,'
'Lead the way!' As he obediently followed the bright Dragon Slayer, Gatti decided he would mimic Dante, and buy something for Shanti. Something special...
*****
'Please stop pacing. You're making me dizzy!' Shesta shook his head at Shanti. Both were in Gatti's room; Shesta sitting on his bed and Shanti walking idly around his room. His mouth curling up into a discontented pout, the Highland Slayer reluctantly took a seat opposite his blond companion. Shesta was pleased when he seemed to sit still...and then sighed as Shanti stood up again and grabbed his tin pipe, before sitting once more and playing with the instrument.
'Do you think they are alright?'
'I'm sure they are! Knowing that pair, they will have worked together and are with Dante as we speak!' Shesta smiled, but the other furrowed his brow.
'I thought you said they never got along...' As Shesta hesitated to reply,
they heard the door click softly behind them. Both heads turned simultaneously
to see a haggard face framed by long, coffee-coloured hair.
'Hello, Dalet,' Shanti said quietly. The Slayer nodded his head in greeting,
and tried to force a smile to his lips. It didn't work.
'Here, come sit down,' The blue-eyed Shesta scooted over and motioned to a spot between himself and Shanti. Dalet moved closer, but preferred to stand, and stated so.
'We've missed you,' The Highlander and the Slayer locked eyes, and held their gazes levelly. Shanti noticed how the taller boy seemed to be sick; everything about him limp and drooping, his normally beautiful lilac eyes were dull and lifeless. He still hasn't forgiven himself...
'So,' Shesta broke their tense silence. 'What brings you here, Dalet?' Moving his head mechanically, the Slayer looked at Shesta.
'I heard about Gatti and Guimel's escapade.' His head tilted. 'I thought they never got along.' A confused expression appeared on his face as he heard Shanti snort derisively. Shesta sniffed, and smoothly changed the subject. He sensed they needed some time to talk.
'Say, are you hungry Shanti? You didn't eat much at breakfast. I can't blame you, though. I think it moved when I wasn't looking.' He stood up. 'I'll get you something, alright?' And voom...he was gone. Dalet stared helplessly after the small boy as an awkward silence appeared between him and Shanti.
'So. What brings you here?' The Highlander tried to keep her tone light, which seemed to have some effect on Dalet.
'I... wanted to see how you were doing,' Shanti searched the other's eyes, peering closely for any signs of emotion.
'I live. Shoulders hurt like mad...' Dalet nodded, trying again to create a sympathetic smile. The silence settled between them again. Their eyes were still locked, and Dalet was starting to become unsettled by her unblinking gaze.
'So...I'd expect you and Gatti have...you both are a couple now, yes?'
Shanti finally blinked as a blush crept into her cheeks, and gave a weak cough.
'I won't say anything to anyone,' the boy quickly assured her. 'I hope you
don't think me intrusive. I've just noticed how he looks at you...I've always
noticed that. I think...he loves you,'
'Well, I...' Shanti sputtered. 'I mean...I care for him...'
'You both would give up your lives for each other.' Dalet pointed out. 'I think he needs to hear you say something. He's afraid...he doesn't want to be rejected, and he doesn't know what will happen.' He shrugged. 'Just think about it, yes?' Shanti nodded quietly, her face showing clearly the emotions battling inside her.
'Why,' she spoke at last. 'Why are you helping me like this...?' Dalet gave a short laugh just as Shesta walked through the door balancing three large objects in his arms.
'You're laughing? That's good!' he said cheerily. 'Want some piscus?' Dalet politely declined the offer, saying he had duties to attend to. 'Oh, well. More for me!' Shesta happily broke the fruit apart and sucked up the liquid inside. The dark-haired Dragon Slayer gave a slight bow to each of them, his eyes resting onto Shanti's once more.
Why do I help you? I am indebted to you. I don't deserve to live.
Thus...I will do what I can, so that you may forgive me... That I may forgive
myself.
He gave a quick, faint hint of a smile, turned on his heel, and left the room.
*****
'Woah.'
That was the only word Gatti could muster as Guimel led him into the very heart
of the Godasim marketplace. It was as if he had rounded the cobblestone corner
and stepped into a new world. The very ground he stood on seem to be alive as
he was enveloped in a tidalwave of noise and colour. As he stood in awe, human
and beast-people moved in bright blurs to either side of him. The Zaibach
soldier felt a rush through him as he had never felt before. Bodies rushed past
him as if he were a rock parting in the surging tide. Music from street
musicians filled his ears; strong, powerful, yet sweet and coquettishly
inviting. Exotic fragrances from spices of lands only dreamt of filled him as
he inhaled it all...trying to take the scene all in and capture it.
'Amazing, isn't it?' Guimel's voice laughed into his ear, drawing him back from his reverie. Gatti nodded enthusiastically.
'Nothing like from where we came from,' he managed to say, careful to omit their true home. Guimel laughed again, and allowed himself to be swept away by the crowd. As Gatti struggled to keep up with him, a nearby stall caught his eye.
'Go find something nice,' he heard his comrade shout. Guimel seemed to be
preoccupied with a Friedan girl who was dancing amidst a circle of onlookers
and musicians. Gatti watched her wink at Guimel, her gracefully ever-weaving
hands coyly twisting inches away from him.
Gatti grinned, and turned back to the stall, which was draped in an
eye-catching shade of emerald green. The curious boy edged closer to the table,
where his attention was held by the light of thousands of brightly shining
objects. His eyes flickered, mesmerized, over each article of jewellery. There
were scarlet pendants made from a very rare form of Energist stone that dangled
on a delicate thread of gold. Rivers of silver flowed over the emerald cloth,
shining pearls floating on their strands.
And there were rings. Beautiful bands of gold and silver decorated with every
colour of precious stone available. Something stirred in Gatti's heart as he
looked at the rings, and he was filled with the complete urge to-
'Can I help you, young man?' The boy's head snapped up to stare into the
dark eyes of a beast-person. The fox-man grinned.
'Looking for a ring?' he asked, his voice seeming as if it hid an inner, smug
amusement. Gatti blinked.
'Uh...y...yes. I am. For my...uh...wife.'
Wife?
'No, not my wife...I mean, I want her to be, but I mean...er...'
Stop stuttering like a child, Gatti! Be a man! The vendor laughed in
genuine mirth.
'No need to explain, my young friend! I will help you find the perfect one for your ladyfriend,' he smiled again, showing off his glistening white canines. 'Now then...describe her to me, and we'll find the perfect match.' Gatti relaxed a little, the cheer of the fox-man catching on. After a long pause to think, he finally spoke.
'I can't describe her...she's...well, she's her. She's so mysterious with her secrets and foreign ways, and her hair like blood-fire, and her eyes...' Gatti stopped abruptly, feeling himself move into that dreamlike trance Dante was often in when speaking of Mikyla. 'I must sound terribly foolish...'
'Here we go.' The fox-man took out a silver ring and showed it to Gatti, who
turned it over in his fingers. The band was a knotwork of two tiny, intricately
designed dragons that interwove with each other. Their eyes were a pair of the
smallest emeralds Gatti had ever seen, and in their claws was held a small
diamond.
'This sort of design is called a Kelht's knot, from the islands of Kelht in the
Highlands,' The Slayer's head snapped up.
'That's where she's from...I'll take it...' his voice shook with excitement and inane giddiness. He reached for his purse as the fox-man set the ring inside a dark emerald-coloured box.
'It seems to be the season for lovers,' he commented. 'I had a young man about your age here just yesterday. Couldn't speak though, poor fellow...That will be thirteen gold pieces,'
'Oh, no...' Gatti's face and heart dropped as he counted only eleven coins. 'Here, I'll give you my cloak...it has to be worth something...' The man put his hands up, a smile spread across his muzzle.
'No need, my friend. This girl of yours must be very special...keep your cloak as my good wishes.' Seeing the expression on Gatti's face made the vendor laugh, and he took the coins from the outstretched hand, and replaced them with the box.
'Th...thank you! Thank you sir!' An idiotic grin crept onto his face, and he carefully pocketed the precious box. 'Thank you so much!'
'Gatti!' Guimel's face appeared from the crowd, one cheek smudged in a suspiciously lip-shaped fashion. 'Come on, we need to go!' The white-blond boy grabbed his comrade by the arm and hurried him away. Gatti kept his eyes on the fox-man's face until it was swallowed up by the crowd.
*****
Migel stood in a corner, glaring at the floor. He had just finished hiding the ring under Dante's pillow when Mikyla had appeared, red in the face with the effort of carrying a large pail of water. As soon as she spotted him, the girl's dark eyes narrowed.
'Where've you been?' she had asked, setting the pail down and folding her arms crossly. 'I needed you to help me,'
'I was out.' Migel had replied shortly. Mikyla exhaled loudly, and shook her head.
'You let me down, Migel. I needed you to help me with Dante, and you were
off traipsing the countryside. Are you so full of yourself that you would just
leave him? What if something had happened, hm? He could have started bleeding
with no one else around! He could have died! Is that what you want?' Migel
lifted his head high, tossing the long chestnut strands out of his eye. One eye
narrowed as he looked arrogantly at her, though he did not say anything until
she delivered her final blow.
'Don't you give me that look! I don't care if you say you love me or think I'm
the Queen of Freid! You are not to leave again without telling me, is that
clear?'
So. She had overheard him. Humiliation and anger swelled up in Migel as her words hailed down upon him like stones.
'And what do you care?' he croaked, his voice raspily complaining of being used. 'I told you I was leaving, and you didn't care.'
'I was taking care of Dante, which is what you should have been doing! Not going behind his back and liking his girl!' Migel's mouth dropped open in shock. That...was going too far.
'Forget it.' he shook his head and grabbed his wooden crutch. 'I'm not putting up with this. I said I was going out. You want to know why? It was for you. But hey, if you don't want me around, then fine. I'll leave.' Whirling around on his good leg, Migel hobbled quickly out of the room.
'Fine! Leave, then!' Mikyla shouted after him as the front door slammed shut.
*****
'Did you buy something?' Guimel asked as they walked down a quiet street. Gatti nodded, the idiot's grin appearing again.
'Yes...yes I did,' The Slayer rolled his indigo eyes, putting his hands casually behind his head.
'You look like Dante. Who'd ya buy it for?' he asked curiously. Gatti replied vaguely,
'Oh...a girl...so, are you going to get a souvenir, or did you waste all your coins on that girl?' Guimel grinned and shrugged.
'It cost me five coins, but I got a name and a kiss!' His chest puffed up as he began to strut. Gatti laughed.
'You are so full of yourse-...hey!' The Slayers were suddenly pushed roughly
aside by a dark, brooding form. Guimel endured the brunt of it; getting an
elbow in his outstretched stomach and being shoved as he clutched his gut. As
he stood doubled over, his companion reached out a hand to steady him and
glared at the rapidly stomping boy.
'Why don't you watch where you're going?' Gatti shouted, though the other
didn't seem to hear. The Slayer paused, studying the other as something
familiar caught his eye. The boy's chestnut hair was tied back into a short
ponytail; the rest of him obscured by a black shawl and black pants.
I've seen that colour of hair before. Gatti mused to himself as he
helped Guimel stand up.
'What's up with that guy?' the Slayer grumbled, his voice tight and strained as he rubbed his poor stomach. Gatti shrugged, looking back at the boy who had nearly disappeared down the street. He hadn't stopped or looked back at all, and seemed to be upset about something as he stomped away. Gatti felt a twinge of pity as he watched the departing boy limp quickly across the cobbles, supporting himself on a thick wooden crutch.
Guimel was starting to walk again. Gatti went to turn, but hesitated. That
colour of hair seemed so familiar...He had a ghost of an image in his head, but
the full picture stayed maddeningly elusive.
Until a name sparked through his mind, taken from a thought that had been
hidden in the very most corners of his head.
Migel?
'Come on,' Guimel ordered impatiently from a short distance away. Gatti hesitated again, then turned around and joined his comrade.